Read the full interview in Fargo Inc. Magazine →
How 12 years of watching executives struggle led to a revolutionary approach to executive assistance
When you spend over a decade watching talented leaders drown in operational chaos, you eventually face a choice: accept the broken system or build something better.
Kayla Deitch, founder and CEO of Execla, chose to build.
Today, we’re proud to announce that Kayla’s story and the revolutionary approach to executive assistance she built has been featured in the December 2024 issue of Fargo Inc. Magazine as part of their prestigious “10 Questions with John Machacek” series.
What 12 Years Supporting Executives Revealed
For over 12 years, Kayla worked alongside executives in corporate environments. Day after day, she watched talented leaders drowning in operational chaos: buried in emails, trapped in back-to-back meetings, overwhelmed by tasks that drained their energy instead of driving results.
She saw the broken system from the inside. The way traditional support structures failed executives. The gaps that left even the most capable leaders struggling to focus on what truly mattered.
That’s when Kayla made a decision: if the system was broken, she would build a better one.
Execla was born from that conviction: a company designed to provide executives with the relief they desperately needed through well-trained executive assistants who could actually transform how they worked.
The book “Buy Back Your Time” changed the Vision
Then came the breakthrough that would sharpen this vision even further.
After reading Dan Martell’s “Buy Back Your Time,” Kayla had a realization that would transform not just Execla, but the lives of every executive we’d serve from that point forward. The problem wasn’t that executives needed more help with projects; they needed to reclaim their time through repeatable systems management.
“I realized the real value wasn’t just in completing projects,” Kayla explains in the Fargo Inc. feature. “It was in helping executives reclaim their time by systemizing the daily operations that drain them.”
That single insight became Execla’s foundation. Instead of training assistants to be reactive task-takers, we began developing proactive business partners who could manage the systems that keep executives buried in their inbox, drowning in calendar chaos, and stuck handling work that drains their energy instead of driving growth.
The Unglamorous Truth About Building Something Revolutionary
When the Bills Don’t Pay Themselves
Here’s what most company announcements won’t tell you: the road to innovation is messy, uncertain, and sometimes involves painting apartment buildings to make mortgage payments.
In her candid interview with Fargo Inc., Kayla doesn’t hide the struggle. She talks openly about nearly four months without a single client. About taking whatever side gigs paid the bills. About the nights when putting one foot in front of the other felt like the only strategy left.
The Power of Showing Up
But she kept showing up. She kept refining the vision. And she kept believing that executives deserved better than the broken models that were failing them.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs captures this spirit perfectly:
“On the hard days, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Show up and do the best you can. Show people you are well-intentioned and keep wearing your heart on your sleeve. You can only be you, and you are enough.”
That authenticity isn’t just inspiring, it’s the DNA of how Execla operates today.
Hiring Exceptional Talent from Pakistan
One of the most powerful aspects of Execla’s story is how we’re creating impact far beyond our Fargo headquarters.
Through partnerships with exceptional professionals in developing countries, we’re proving that world-class executive support doesn’t require sacrificing anyone’s well-being in the process. The Fargo Inc. feature highlights Kayla’s collaboration with Khadijah, Execla’s Director of Operations based in Pakistan, and trainee Ruqaiya, who’s ready to support her first executive client.
“We’re allowing highly skilled professionals in developing countries to do challenging, meaningful work without sacrificing their health or well-being.”
The result is a win-win-win scenario:
- Executives receive exceptional support from talented professionals
- Those professionals gain life-changing career opportunities
- Businesses get sustainable, scalable assistance that actually works
What Makes Execla Different (And Why It Matters)
Why Traditional Models Fail
Traditional virtual assistant models fail for a simple reason: they treat assistance as a service, not as a system.
The Execla System-First Approach
Execla flips that model. We don’t just help you manage email; we build email management protocols with clear response templates in your voice. We don’t just keep your calendar; we create strategic scheduling systems aligned with your priorities and energy levels, not just your availability. We don’t just handle tasks; we establish recurring task systems that run without constant oversight.
Multiply your capacity to focus on high-value work
Once these foundational systems are in place, something remarkable happens: your Executive Assistant can confidently take on larger, more strategic projects because the daily chaos is handled. You’re not just delegating tasks; you’re multiplying your capacity to focus on high-value work.
As the Fargo Inc. piece demonstrates, this system-first approach is helping executives reclaim 10+ hours per week while building sustainable support that actually scales with their business.
Why this feature Matters!
The feature celebrates entrepreneurs who are disrupting industries and redefining business success. It’s proof that Execla’s approach (combining repeatable systems, international collaboration, and authentic leadership) represents the future of executive support.
Being selected for Fargo Inc.’s “10 Questions” series isn’t just an honor; it’s validation that our mission resonates with business leaders who understand that the way executives work is fundamentally broken.
Read Kayla’s Full Story
Want the complete inside look at the entrepreneurial journey behind Execla? The Fargo Inc. feature covers everything from the pivotal role of the North Dakota Women’s Business Center to the mentor relationships that shaped our success.
Read the full interview in Fargo Inc. Magazine →
What You’ll Discover:
- The “why” behind starting Execla
- How fractional EA support outperforms traditional full-time hiring
- The exact systems helping executives reclaim their time
- What’s next for Execla’s mission
Join Us in Transforming How Leaders Work
For Executives: If you’ve ever thought “hiring an assistant takes more time than it saves,” we built Execla specifically for you. Our system-first approach means you get support that actually reduces your workload from day one.
For Professionals: If you’re seeking meaningful, flexible work that challenges your skills without sacrificing your well-being, we’d love to talk. Execla is built on the belief that exceptional work and sustainable lifestyles aren’t mutually exclusive.
For Our Community: Know someone who needs their time back? Share Execla. Word-of-mouth from supporters like you is how we grow and serve more leaders who are ready to transform how they work.
Ready to reclaim your time and energy for what truly matters?
Visit execla.io or connect with our team today.
About Execla
Execla provides executive assistance built on repeatable systems management—helping leaders reclaim their time, energy, and focus for high-value work. Through strategic delegation and proactive support, Execla’s trained Executive Assistants transform daily chaos into sustainable productivity.
Media Contact: contact@execla.io
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